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Trump says tariffs will be 'very fair', names winners and losers

Thursday 8 March 2018 - 7:42pm

US President Donald Trump announces that the United States will impose tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on imported aluminum during a meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 1, 2018.

WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump vowed on Thursday to press ahead with 25 percent tariffs on foreign steel and 10 percent on aluminium, singling out Germany for criticism.

He said Mexico, Canada, Australia and "others" could be exempt from the tariffs.

"We are going to be very fair, we&39;re going to be very flexible," Trump told his cabinet while pointing to winners and losers from the contentious policy.

Trump said Mexico and Canada could get "carve-outs" if talks to renegotiate the trilateral Nafta trade agreement go well.

"If we reach a deal it is most likely that we won&39;t be charging those two countries the tariffs," he said, adding that Australia would also be spared.

"We have a very close relationship with Australia, we have a trade surplus with Australia. Great country, long-term partner, we&39;ll be doing something with them," he said. "We&39;ll be doing something with some other countries."